Chapter Objectives

After reading and studying this chapter you should be able to:

1. Understand the global significance of the break up of the Soviet Union and the liberation of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

2. Understand that all countries of this region face a very uncertain transition from state capitalism within the Soviet bloc to free-market capitalism within the world economic system.

3. Outline the issues, like the future of nuclear weapons, that concern the CIS.

4. Examine the roles of nuclear power, oil, and natural gas.

5. Describe the characteristics of agriculture before and after 1991.

6. Define emigres and their reception.

7. Describe the complex ethnic patterns and tensions that are found throughout the region.

8. Trace the evolution of the Russian Empire to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

9. Document the numerous environmental problems plaguing this region.

10. Explain how centralization and the "extensive" economic system led to economic development in the Soviet Union.

11. Understand the plight of the Kalmyks.

12. Describe resource development and industrialization in Siberia.

13. Know the most important characteristics of Irkutsk.

14. Compare and contrast the characteristics of the Ukraine and Armenia.

15. Know that the population of Central Asia, unlike the rest of this region, is growing despite out-migration of Russians.

16. Understand other ways that Central Asia is different from the rest of the CIS.

17. Trace the history of urbanization in Russia.

18. Discuss the future of Russia's roles, influences, and desires in relation to the wants and needs of all the neighboring countries that Russia used to control.

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